Category Archives: Court Equipment Info

Umpire chairs are great for tennis matches but they can serve other purposes as well.

Remember the movie The Sandlot? The beautiful lifeguard, Wendy Peffercorn, watched over the kids in the pool from the top of her umpire chair.

No matter what you do with an umpire chair, officiate tennis matches or use it as a lifeguard tower, it is important to do your research before you purchase.

Tennis umpire chairs are typically about eight feet tall, giving umpires or lifeguards a good view to make good calls or save a swimmer in need of some assistance.

Many sports equipment retailers, like Courtmaster and Gamma, offer umpire chairs that are made to last.

The Courtmaster PVC Umpire Chair is multi-functional; perfect for tennis courts, golf tees, and pools or basically anywhere a judge is needed.

This umpire chair is made out of white PVC pipe with wheels that provide convenient portability and a green seat cushion that offers comfort. It also comes with the option to add a canopy if needed.

The Gamma Aluminum Tennis Umpire Chair is built to the highest quality ensuring durability and safety for whoever sits in it. The aluminum construction will not rust or rot and is able to pass through typical gates or doors.

The Courtmaster Royale Umpire Chair is cuprinol dipped to withstand weather wear with wooden steps, armrests, seat and back for a traditional look and even comes with a desk and the option for an umbrella is available.

This particular umpire chair has a padded front feet swivel in order to adjust to uneven surfaces and the legs are made of 1-1/2” forest green square tubing. Wheels on the rear legs make for easy rolling.

As you can see, tennis umpire chairs are more than just a seat. They provide comfort and the perfect view, allowing officials to make the right calls. Whether it is center court at a tennis match or poolside at the neighborhood watering hole, umpire chairs literally offer the “best seat in the house!”

The Masham Tennis Club in the UK welcomed a new member to the team; a brand new Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine!

Part of the Masham Sports Association, the Masham Tennis Club aims to “provide superb subsidized coaching and have developed thriving Junior and Intermediate sections.” Thanks a “Community Chest” grant from a Harrogate Borough Council, the club was able to purchase their new tennis ball machine to aid in perfecting the skills of tennis players.

The new Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine can throw tennis balls over the net at 85 mph and can also change direction and elevation as needed. Paul Barker, Tennis Club chairman said, “It is great fun to use and I’m absolutely certain this will help to improve everyone’s general standards of tennis although I am a little nervous at being beaten hands down by the machine!”

Barker expressed his gratitude to HBC for their generosity with assisting in purchasing the new tennis ball machine and is ecstatic that this small club is becoming even more player friendly. In addition to the new machine, the club has also resurfaced all three of their courts.

The new tennis ball machine will be a great tool in coaching sessions with the club`s professional coach, Chris Worwood.

Tennis Tutor tennis ball machines are manufactured by the company, Sports Tutor, and are famous for being the best-selling tennis ball machines in the world. Their portable machine, the Tennis Tutor, is the number one seller in the US.

Tennis Tutor tennis ball machines are even employed by coaching pros at the ATP training center in Florida.

The new tennis ball machine will no doubt help club players refine their skills and grow as tennis competitors which is the ultimate goal of the Masham Tennis Club. Thanks to a generous grant, the growing club can better serve the needs of their current and future club members.

2011 was a busy year for Edwards Sports tennis equipment and it looks like 2012 will be just as eventful for the UK based company who produces equipment for many different sports. In 2011 the sports equipment manufacturer supplied Edwards tennis nets and other court accessories to major tennis events including the Doha Asian Games, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and the legendary Wimbledon.

In 2012 the company plans to supply custom canvas screens for theLondon 2012 Olympic Games as well as Edwards tennis nets, posts, umpire chairs and other accessories.

The company is known for its quality products, so much so that their 35,000 sq. ft. factory, located in Bridport, was featured on UK`s, “The One Show.” The episode focused mostly around Edwards tennis nets due to the town`s rope and net heritage.

“The One Show” mentioned that Edwards nets were used in the 1966 World Cup Final but in the 125 years that the company has been in business, their equipment has seen many tournaments for a variety of sports including football, cricket, badminton, basketball and many more.

The most legendary tennis tournaments of them all, Wimbledon, uses Edwards tennis nets and according to the company website, “All our products are made to the appropriate British and European standards…”

Edwards tennis nets come with one of their three headbands; vinyl coated, standard polyester and premium polyester. All headbands are built with premium, top-quality materials.

In doing my research, I also realized that Edwards tennis nets can even be customized to any color and size. The company will even add a label, name, logo, or all three!

Edwards tennis nets as well their other sports equipment products have served not only the tennis community but the sports world as a whole. With top quality materials and a love of athletics, the Edwards Sports Products company has been committed to producing premium sports equipment for over 125 years.

When I was younger, my brother and I would play handball against the garage door after school… my mother hated it! The constant sounds of balls slamming against the old wooden garage would drive anyone crazy. Just like my mother, James Stewart was frustrated by the relentless sounds of tennis balls pounding against the garage door. Rather than reprimanding his children for having fun or taking the game away completely, he came up with a solution; Bakko Backboards.

James Stewart invented Bakko Backboards in the 70`s and in the last three decades the company has only grown in experience.

According the company website, “…Bakko has continued to utilize innovative ideas to expand Bakko Backboards offering many options for the tennis enthusiast, while remaining a small, quality-conscious, family-owned business.”

Not only do Bakko Backboards reduce noise but hitting balls against garages or any other wall over a period of time can cause damage that requires costly repairs, thus backboards save money in the long run by eliminating the need for these expensive maintenances.

In order to meet the needs of their customers, the company offers Bakko Backboards in many different shapes, sizes and colors and can even be customized if needed. Not only that but the company provides a line of rebound nets that can fit into smaller areas.

Bakko Backboards are offered in a fiberglass series that ship in panels for easy assembly. The company is so committed to quality that more than 20 steps go into the building of each panel.

The pre-fabricated panels of Bakko Backboards are designed to allow unlimited size and/or placement. When interlocked they create a seamless wall… just as good as a garage!

It is said that the greatest ideas are inspired by necessity and that is definitely true with Bakko Backboards. One father`s frustration turned into a business that has served the tennis community over generations with high quality materials and exceptional service.

Growing up, my grandparents always had a tennis court in their backyard. You could make the tennis net higher if you wanted to play volleyball, and you could take the tennis net down altogether and play basketball with the hoops that were planted on either side of the court. That court was probably what got me so interested in the game of tennis but there was one thing that it was missing; a tennis ball machine.

Sometimes I didn`t have a partner to play with so a tennis ball machine would have come in real handy! If you have the extra room on your property, you can make use of the spare space and make your backyard into your family`s own personal rec center; even if you’re on a budget!

For your own tennis court, you’re going to need to invest in tennis net. A ball machine would also make the tennis court even better because it will allow you and other members of the family to practice alone when others are busy.

There are so many options of tennis ball machines, ranging from around $500 all the way up to $8,000. Of course you don`t need an $8,000 tennis ball machine for a home court; there are plenty of options on the lower end of the price spectrum.

The battery operated Tennis Tutor Cube Oscillating Ball Machine is a lower cost tennis ball machine perfect for a home court. It has a ball capacity of 150 balls and a ball ejection speed of 10-60 MPH. The Tennis Cube also has a built in random oscillator that throws balls in a sweeping pattern from side to side giving you a great workout!

You can set the Tennis Cube to throw balls between every 2 seconds to every 10 seconds, letting you control how you want to practice your swings.

So if you have spare space, time, a little extra cash and you love the game of tennis, take a look at some of the products you need to create your family`s own private recreation center. Keep in mind, however, once you neighbors find out it might not be so private!

The Greater San Diego Tennis Council is a charitable association with goals of restoring and resurfacing tennis courts all over San Diego County. Over the recent school break, the council held a ceremony celebrating the future renovation of the tennis courts at Roosevelt IB Middle School. The Greater San Diego Tennis Council plans to make many improvements including resurfacing the courts and replacing metal nets with traditional tennis nets.

Past NBA pro, TV sportscaster and local resident of San Diego, Bill Walton was a huge supporter of the initiative and attended the ceremony. “I am proud, privileged, honored, humbled and most fortunate to be directly involved in this wonderful project,” said Walton. “We owe our children the best, and this is a huge step in the right direction.”

Not only does the Tennis Council plan remodel the run-down tennis courts, they want to change the sand-surface field to a more multi-purpose grass park. The renovations will hopefully deliver an improved environment for the students as well as the public.

The principal of Roosevelt IB Middle School expressed his excitement for the project, “It’s an honor to be a part of this collaborative effort to support academics and athleticisms. We encourage our students to find a sport they like and become good at it so they might compete for academic and athletic scholarships to college one day.”

As of now, the tennis courts are asphalt-surfaced and the tennis nets that are presently installed are metal and possibly unsafe.

The tennis courts will be transformed into the advanced, two-toned hard court surface and the metal nets will be replaced with conventional tennis nets. The new courts will also be lined in accordance with the USTA`s “10 and under tennis” guidelines to give the younger children a chance to learn and enjoy the game.

Ben Press, president of the Greater San Diego City Tennis Council stated, “As an alumnus of Roosevelt Middle School, I remember playing on two white cement tennis courts. Now four tennis courts will be renovated for the enjoyment of students and community members for many years to come.”

Thanks to the generosity of the Greater San Diego Tennis Council, the San Diego District, foundations and private donors, students and community members are going to be able have an enriched experience at Roosevelt IB Middle School. Hopefully this initiative will spark the renovation of other tennis courts in San Diego and other cities.

There is nothing more rewarding than doing something you love and getting paid for it. If you love tennis, know everything about the game and enjoy teaching, you might want to consider becoming a tennis coach! There are certain things you need to be successful in this career, for instance, you need to be certified and you need the right tools like a tennis ball hopper and a tennis ball machine.

First off, you need to know every aspect of the game and be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your students. Secondly, you need to know how to teach and the teaching methods that work best for you. A great start to this would be assisting a pro tennis coach and getting some experience under your belt.

You also need to get certified and the United States has two professional tennis organizations. It is wise to belong to both of these organizations so you can be current will all news and information relating to the tennis industry. Being a part of these organizations also helps you gain valuable contacts that you may not have access to otherwise.

It all depends on where you coach but one of the most important tools for a tennis coach is a ball hopper. You sure to find a tennis ball hopper within your budget but a great option for an instructor are the HOAG Teach `n` Travel Cart with Lid.

The HOAG Teach `n` Travel ball hopper is ideal for traveling tennis coaches. There is no assembly needed and it easily transported because it has collapsible button-locking legs. Racquets can also be locked inside the cart for added protection.

Becoming a tennis instructor requires a learning process but can be well worth the time. Having a career doing something you love is priceless! If you don`t know what you want to do for a profession or your looking for a career change, consider becoming a tennis coach! Getting the materials like a tennis ball hopper, racquet and balls is the easy part, it’s learning how to teach that may seem challenging but it`s worth it!